Bruins Relishing Opportunity for Fresh Start

The postseason offers every team in the state an opportunity to be start over. Rankings are thrown out the window, records are irrelevant, and the only thing that matters is the next game. At least that’s how the Ballard Bruins Boys Soccer team sees it. After a tumultuous regular season which saw the Bruins literally limp through to a 5-11-2 campaign full of injuries, suspensions, roster defections, and controversial refereeing; Ballard is looking forward to starting over in the post-season.  

Unfortunately for the Bruins the post-season is never an easy road, and this year is no different as Ballard will open with arch-rival Eastern in the District 28 semifinals (Monday, 7:30pm at Christian Academy). The Bruins and Eagles met on August 30, with the Eagles coming out on top after a controversial penalty kick decision with 3 minutes left in the game. Ballard had played their best half of soccer up to that point and were dealt a very unfortunate hand with the penalty decision.

If Ballard is going to upset the Eagles it will rely heavily on the senior duo of Ben Ahmetagic and Austin Lewis. Ahmetagic, a defender/midfielder leads the team in Goals (8) and Assists (6); while Lewis, a defender, is second on the team in Goals with six of his own. Ahmetagic and Lewis will be looking to make up for the absence of senior Camilo Martinez who is suspended for the game due to a red card obtained against Lafayette on September 25.

Should the Bruins defeat the Eagles they will face the winner of Kentucky Country Day and Christian Academy for the District 28 title (Thursday, 7pm at Christian Academy). Ballard split a pair of 3-2 overtime decisions between the two, defeating CAL on September 10 and falling to KCD on September 18. The Bruins are motivated to show that their regular season did not reflect their true abilities as a team and will look to clinch a spot in the Region 7 tournament at the expense of their dreaded rival.

Notes:

• Ballard is 6-0 in District Tournament play under coach Rob Zoeller and are three time defending champions.
• The Bruins have a combined 16-3-1 record against its District opponents in the past 4 years.
• Eastern's victory on August 30th was the first for the Eagles over the Bruins since 2008.
• Ballard owns a 5-1 record against Eastern since 2009, defeating the Eagles in the District Tournament in 2010 (championship) and 2011 (semi-final).